With the signing of Ryan Dempster earlier this week, it is unlikely that the Cubs will continue to pursue San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy. The starting rotation is now set with the same 5 starters from the end of last season – Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden and Marquis. It would be great to add a Peavy to any rotation, even the Cubs, but that would mean moving one of the current starters – most likely Marquis.

Sam Zell has still not settled on a buyer for the Cubs and given the financial crisis being felt all across the world, who knows where final bids will come in at the end of the month. The Cubs also have escalating commitments to current players coming up over the next few years (under contracts with Lee, Ramirez, Soriano and Zambrano), so adding on the $63 million that Peavy is still owed under his current contract through 2012, might not be feasible at this time.

The team still needs to address it’s left-handed hitting void and has limited options available given its current financial constraints and the anticipated 2009 budget. Adding Peavy’s contract to the mix would limit that even more. The Cubs are still trying to get a 3rd team involved to complete a deal for Peavy, but that option seems less and less likely as more time passes by.

My bet – the Braves and Padres eventually come to terms and agree on the right prospects to send Peavy to Atlanta.